EARLIER TOPDRESING.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 146, 19 August 1926, Page 6

EARLIER TOPDRESING.

ADOPTED IN MORRINSVILLE. There is evidence that Morrinsville farmers are topdressirig for the spring- much earlier now than was previously the case. A representative of one of the manure merchants operating in Morrinsville stated the other day that, while many farmers formerly were content to wait until August or September to carry out this operation, they have done so this year in July, and the July sales of manure of his firm this year were 50 per cent, above those of July, 1925. By topdressing thus early the farmers get the full advantage of any early growth there might be. An illustration was given last week of the value topdressing is to the quality of the pastures. Another glowing example comes from Piako, where a few years ago a farmer went on to a section he had just bought, with a herd that the vendor claimed would average him 3001 b of butterfat. The first season showed a dis- [ appointing average of only a little I over 1001 b, .but during this time the j land had received no fertiliser. The next season he topdressed, with the result that the herd average was raised to approximately 2001 b of fat. During the third season a still greater quantity of manure was added, and at the close of this period the average for the season was what the vendor claimed the herd was capable of, namely, 3001 b of fat per cow.